Musa Pedestris - Three Centuries of Canting Songs and Slang Rhymes [1536 - 1896] by Farmer, John S.

_Recitative_.

With daylights flashing, Bess at length reply'd, [8] Must Joey proffer this, and be deny'd? No, no, my Joe shall have his heart delight And we'll be wedded ere we dorse this night; [9] "Well lipp'd," quoth Joe, "no more you need to say"--[10] "Gee-up! gallows, do you want my sand to-day?"

_Air_.

I

Joe sold his sand, and cly'd his cole, sir, [11] While Bess got a basket of rags, Then up to St. Giles's they roll'd, sir, To every bunter Bess brags: Then into a booze-ken they pike it, [12] Where Bess was admitted we hear; For none of the coves dare but like it, As Joey, her kiddy, was there.

II

Full of glee, until ten that they started, For supper Joe sent out a win; A hog's maw between them was parted, And after they sluic'd it with gin: It was on an old leather trunk, sir, They married were, never to part; But Bessy, she being blind drunk, sir, Joe drove her away in his cart.

[1: street] [2: rag-gatherer] [3: kissed her] [4: eyes] [5: ale-house] [6: fellow, girl, or wife] [7: brave and cute] [8: eyes] [9: sleep] [10: spoken] [11: pocketed his money] [12: go]

THE HAPPY PAIR. [1789]

[By GEORGE PARKER in _Life's Painter of Variegated Characters_].

_Joe_.

Ye slang-boys all, since wedlock's nooze, Together fast has tied Moll Blabbermums and rowling Joe, Each other's joy and pride; Your broomsticks and tin kettles bring, With cannisters and stones: Ye butchers bring your cleavers too, Likewise your marrow-bones; For ne'er a brace in marriage hitch'd, By no one can be found, That's half so blest as Joe and Moll, Search all St. Giles's round.

_Moll_.

Though fancy queer-gamm'd smutty Muns Was once my fav'rite man, Though rugged-muzzle tink'ring Tom For me left maw-mouth'd Nan: Though padding Jack and diving Ned, [1] With blink-ey'd buzzing Sam, [2] Have made me drunk with hot, and stood [3] The racket for a dram; Though Scamp the ballad-singing kid, Call'd me his darling frow, [4] I've tip'd them all the double, for [5] The sake of rowling Joe.

_Chorus_.

Therefore, in jolly chorus now, Let's chaunt it altogether, And let each cull's and doxy's heart [6] Be lighter than a feather; And as the kelter runs quite flush, [7] Like _natty_ shining _kiddies_, To treat the coaxing, giggling brims, [8] With spunk let's post our _neddies_; [9] Then we'll all roll in _bub_ and _grub_, [10] Till from this ken we go, [11] Since rowling Joe's tuck'd up with Moll, And Moll's tuck'd up with Joe.

[1: tramping; pick-pocket] [2: pickpocket] [3: paid for] [4: woman, girl] [5: jilted] [6: man; woman] [7: money] [8: whores] [9: spirit; spend our guineas] [10: drink; food] [11: drinking-house]

THE BUNTER'S CHRISTENING. [Notes] [1789]

[By GEORGE PARKER in _Life's Painter of Variegated Characters_].

I

Bess Tatter, of Hedge-lane, To ragman Joey's joy, The cull with whom she snooz'd [1] Brought forth a chopping boy: Which was, as one might say, The moral of his dad, sir; And at the christ'ning oft, A merry bout they had, sir.

II

For, when 'twas four weeks old, Long Ned, and dust-cart Chloe, To give the kid a name, Invited were by Joey; With whom came muzzy Tom, [2] And sneaking Snip, the boozer, [3] Bag-picking, blear-ey'd Ciss, And squinting Jack, the bruiser. [4]

III